Car-coupling



(No Model.)

J H. PUTNAM,

I OAR COUPLING. No. 254,373. Patented Feb. 28,1882.

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JOHN. H. PUTNAM, OF TIOGA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 254,373, dated February28, 1882.

Application filed November 19, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Beit known that I, JOHN HAVENS PUINAM, acitizen of the United States, residing at Tioga, in the county of Tiogaand State of Pennsylvania, have made certain Improvements in Devices forCoupling Cars, of which the following is a specification.

The invention will be understood as set forth in the followingspecification and claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of the end of a car withmy coupling device attached thereto and hanging down as when not in use;Fig. 2, a top plan view of the same, showing a section of one end of acar, the draw-head, and with the link held up by my device ready forcoupling; Fig. 3, a detail of the lifting-rod, showing the bend orprojection thereon to hold the link; Fig. 4, an end elevation, showingrods at each end or sides of car.

Similar letters of reference indicate-corresponding parts in all theviews.

A represents one end of a flat car, B the draw-head, a the usualcoupling-link, and b the pin.

G is my coupling-rod, made of iron, bent down at one end, forming ahandle, 0, op the left-hand side of the car and within easy reach fromthe side of the track, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This rod, from thebend of the handle, runs straight horizontally inward to within a shortspace of the draw-head, where it is bent down at right angles, thenagain bent at right angles horizontally below the draw-head, as shown at0, thus forming two parts of a square, which hang outside of and swingclear of the draw-head, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This bent rod issuspended in two hangers, d d, fastened to the front or ends of acar,and which may be either loose hanging rods,hooks,loops, or chains, orother suitable device that will allow a free movement up and down of therod 0 and a sufiicient sidewise play.

To further aid in holding the coupling-link up in position, so that itwill not slip off from any cause, especially when a side movement isnecessary, I make in the middle of the horizontal part c, on which thelink will rest, a

square or rounded projection, c, standing out a short distance. \Vhenraised to couple, the rod and its projection appear as in Fig. 3. Thisinsures that the link will be held by the rod 0 c", and will not slipsidewise thereon when the necessity exists for pulling or pushing therodO. The projection c insures accurate guidance ofthelink into theopposite drawhead. By means of itthe link cannot slip upon the rod, andas the rod is readily moved laterally ot' the car the link will beguided with con taintyinto the draw-head, asltcan bemoved one way or theother readily. As soon as the link enters the opposite draw-head thebrakeman drops the handle 0 and the rod falls down in place, suspendedby its hangers d, where it is entirely out of the way of concussions,&o., as shown in Fig. 1.

One of these devices will be hung at each end of a car, at the left-handside, preferably, so that on either side of aoar abrakeman may stand hewill have one of these devices at hand, either on one car or the other,or two distinct ones on each end.

I am aware that devices of this character have been known which receivethe link on a plane length of rod; but this arrangement is open to theobjection that the link is liable to slip one way or the other on therod, and an accurate guidance of the link into the opposite draw-headcannot be secured.

What I claim is The combination, with a draw-head, B, and link a, of thebent coupling-rod O c c, swung on easily-movable hangers d, and providedwith the projection 0, located in the portion 0 of the rod, directlyunder the link a, and adapted to engage therewith, and to serve as anaccurate holding and guiding means for said*link,

J. H. PUTNAM.

Witnesses:

J. R. DRAKE, O. H. KELLOGG.

